Couch-hammock and wind-shield therefor.



I. E. PALMER. eoucn HAMMOGK AND WIND SHIELD THEREFOR.

APPLIO ATION TILED SEPT. 20, 1912.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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CDLUMEA PLANOOIAPN CO. WASHINGTON. D. C.

I. E. PALMER.

COUCH HAMMOGK AND WIND SHIELD THEREFOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20, 1912. 1,053,859, Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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I. E. PALMER.

COUCH HAMMOGK AND WIND SHIELD THEREFOR. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20,1912.

1,053,859, K Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQFJ.

ISAAC E. PALMER, OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE I. E.PALMER (30., OF MIDDLETOWN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

COUCI-I-I-IAMMOCK AND WIND-SHIELD THEREFOR.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1913.

Application filed September 20, 1812. Serial No. 721,337.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Isaac E. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Middletown, in the county of Mid dlesex and State ofConnecticut, have invented an Improvement in Couch-Hammocks andlVindShields Therefor, of which the following description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters 011the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to couch hammocks having one or more windshields, and in certain forms thereof is intended particularly for useas a. hammock crib.

An important object of the invention is to provide a so-calledall-the-year-round couch hammock or hammock crib.

Referring more particularly to the drawings; Figure l is a plan view ofa couch hammock embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a detail mainly inlongitudinal vertical section; Fig. 3 is a detail mainly in sideelevation showing one manner of attaching a wind shield to thesuspension end; Fig. -1 is a detail showing a portion of one of thesuspension ends in elevation; Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showinga modified manner of attaching a wind shield to the suspension end; Fig.6 is a. view similar to Fig. 4.- of the modification shown in Fig. 5;Figs. 7 and S are respectively a side elevation and a vertical sectionrepresenting one of the three leaf side walls or wind shields in one ofits operative positions; Figs. 9 and 10 are views similar to Figs. 7 and8 showing another manner of use of said three leaf side wall or windshield; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention;Fig. 12 is a transverse, vertical section upon the line 1212 of Fig. 11;Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of still another form of theinvention; Fig. 14 is an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 15 is a detailon the line 15-l5 of Fig. 14:, showing the hook upon the spreader end.

Couch hammocks have heretofore been provided with wind shields. Thesewind shields have frequently been laced to the sus pension ends by meansof gromet eyes and lacing cords, and combined back rests and wind.shields have been provided with a spreader having hook suspension endsadapted to take over the spreaders of the suspension ends as shown, forexample, in

my Patent No. 921,623, dated May 11, 1909.

In accordance with the present invention I provide the hammock with oneor two side walls preferably serving the purpose of wind shields. When Iemploy two side Walls or wind shields, the device constitutes in effecta hammock crib. Although I have shown and shall describe the hammock asprovided with opposite wind shields, it is to be distinctly understoodthat within the scope of my invention but a single wind shield orsidewall may be employed and that in such case the hammock is adaptedfor general use as such. The wind shield (or the wind shields, as thecase may be) is or are flexibly connected to the suspension ends. Hooksare preferably provided upon spreaders detach ably or permanentlyapplied to the wind shield or wind shields, and these hooks are adaptedto engage suitable means applied to the suspension ends, certain formsof which I have herein disclosed. The Wind shield is preferablypartially at least of an open nature, being reticulated or of an openmesh formation, thus permitting ventilation, but in accordance withcertain forms of my invention, the wind shield may be so manipulated orused that it has the effect of a closed wind shield or side wall. Theterm reticulated is used in a generic sense to include foraminous,perforated, open mesh, and like formations.

Referring more particularly to the drawings; the frame of the hammock isrepresented as composed of end members l1 and longitudinal or sidemembers 22 detachably or otherwise secured into substantiallyrectangular position. The frame may, of course, be wooden or metallic,or partially wood and partially metal, as desired. Any suitable seatingmay be employed, as, for example, one of metal links or of cords or ofcloth. I have herein represented a seating composed of one or more cords3 reeved through eyes 4:, 5 in any suitable manner, not herein necessaryfurther to disclose or to describe. One of the suspension ends isindicated at 6 in Figs. 2, 3 and 5. Such suspension end is preferably ofsome suitable sheet-like flexible material, such as canvas. Nithin thescope of my invention, the hammock body may be continuous from end toend as in the well-known Gloucester type of hammock but preferably Iemploy separate suspension ends, so that the hammock seating is exposedbeneath. In the event that separate suspension ends be employed, theymay be attached to the ham mock frame in any suitable manner. I haveherein, however, represented one of the suspension ends as provided atits lower end with a pocket 7 having therein a spreader S which hassecured thereto a series of hooks 9 adapted to engage the adjacent endmember 1 of the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. This permits theready detachment of each of the suspension ends for washing or otherpurpose. The spreader 8 may if de sired be removed from the suspensionend 6 to permit the washing of the ends. Each of the suspension ends isprovided at its upper end with a usual spreader 10 from which thestringing cords may extend.

I have herein represented opposite wind shields or side walls 10.Preferably they are the same in structure, and it is necessary todescribe but one of them. As most clearly apparent from Figs. 7 and 8,each wind shield is composed of a preferably closely woven or otherwisesuitably fashioned sheet or fabric 11, which at its lower edge 12extends beneath the adjacent longitudinal member of the frame andterminates at or adjacent the inner edge thereof. The inner edge of thiswind shield may be attached at its lower end in any suitable mannerpreferably permitting ready detachment thereof. Preferably I employ acord or lacing 13 at one or more points, by which the lower edge of thewind shield is tied to the seating. This permits the ready detachment ofthe wind shield from the hammock frame, and inasmuch as the wind shieldor wind shields are detachably connected to the suspension ends, itfollows that all the fabric portions of the hammock may, in thepreferred form of the invention. be readily detached from the frame forcleaning them or for other purposes.

Preferably I provide a wind shield or wind shields with a spreader 14detachably inserted in a suitable pocket 15, here shown as at its upperedge. This spreader is intended mainly to prevent the wind shield fromunduly bulging, and is not intended primarily as a back rest. At eachend of the spreader 14 I provide a hook 16 having a web 17, which may beinserted into a vertical socket in the end edge of the spreader, beingsecured therein, if desired, by screws 18. Each hook 16 may have lateralflanges fitting flatwise against the edge of the spreader. The book 16,it will be observed, lies in a plane substantially between the planes ofthe opposite faces of the spreader 14. If desired, the hook 16 may beinclined slightly forwardly, as indicated in Fig. 14, so as to cause itto hold more securely, or

backwardly if desired. Each hook 16 is adapted to engage yieldingly withsome suitable portion of the suspension means. In Figs. 3 and 4, I haverepresented the sus-' pension end as having a wire loop 19 insertedthrough the end of the spreader 10 which may be cut away as in dottedlines in Fig. 4, wherein the spreader 14- is indicated in dottedoutline. In Figs. 3 and 4, the wire loop 19 is represented as having aneye 19 intermediate its ends, the terminals of the wire extendingthrough the spreader and thence along the face thereof opposite the eye,as indicated in said figures.

Instead of employing a wire loop as represented in Fig. 4, I may employa screw eye 20, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, the hook 16 engaging thesame flexibly, as indicated. Any other suitable means may be provided toreceive the hook 16. For example, the suspension end may be provided atsuitable points preferably along its vertical edge or edges with grometeyes 21, such as represented in Figs. 13 and 14, into which the hookstake. Any other suitable means may be provided whereby the spreader 14may be hooked to the suspension ends so as to provide a flexible,readily detachable connection.

as previously stated, the wind shield is preferably of an openventilating construction. While this result may be secured in differentways, I have in Figs. 7 to 10 inelusive, shown one form of the inventionwherein the lower portion 11 of the wind shield is of a close weave ornon-ventilating construction. The fabric 11 is here shown as terminatingat the point 22 and as having secured thereto two extensions 23, 24, ofwhich the former is a close weave construction, forming substantially acontinuation of the fabric 11 and of which the latter is an open weaveor open mesh construction, pro viding a ventilating portion or portions,it being obvious that the open mesh construction of the part 24 need notbe continuous from end to end of the wind shield or side wall. As shown,however, the open mesh character of the extension 24 is continuedsubstantially to the ends thereof, where, however, in order to impartthe desired strength, I preferably employ the close woven strips 25, 25,which may be provided with gromet eyes 26. Furthermore, suitable grometeyes may be provided not only in the ends of the extension 23, but alsoin the body 11 and extension 24. The adjacent edges of the suspensionends 6 may also be provided with gromet eyes as indicated at 27 in Fig.2, whereby if desired the suspension ends and wind shield may be lacedtogether below the hooks 16.

The pocket 15 is provided at the upper edge of the ventilating portion24 of the back rest and the upper edge of the closed extension 23 of theback rest is provided with a pocket 28. A spreader may be employed ineach of said pockets or if desired I may provide a single spreader foruse interchangeably in said pockets. hen it is desired to use theventilating or open mesh portion 24. of the wind shield, then the hooks16 of the spreader 14 are hooked to the suspension ends as previouslydescribed, and the close woven portion 23 of the back rest is allowed toassume the position shown in Fig. 7. IVhen, however, it is desired toutilize the non-ventilating portion 23 of the wind shield, then thespreader 14 may be removed from the pocket 15 of the ventilatingprolongation 2s and inserted in the pocket 28 of the non-ventilatingextension 23, or a separate spreader may be employed and the hooksthereof may be engaged with the suspension ends, as previouslydescribed. lVhen the non-ventilating extension 23 is employed, then theventilating eX- tension 24: is allowed to assume the position shown inFig. 10. I may, if desired, employ means for securing the ventilatingportion 2st when not in use, against displacement, though it may bepermitted to hang loose, as shown in Fig. 9.

It will be understood that so far as the three leaf ventilating andnon-ventilating structure of the wind shield or side wall is concerned,such element may be secured in any suitable way to the suspension ends,whether by hooks or otherwise.

It will be observed that each wind shield or side of the hammockconsists of a main body portion and two facing extensions therefrom, oneof which extensions is a ventilating extension and the other of which isa nonventilating extension.

If desired, I may provide a spreader at a point or points intermediatethe upper and lower edges of the wind shield, as, for example,substantially along the line of union of the ventilating andnon-ventilating portions 23, 24.

In Figs. 11 and 12, I have represented each wind shield or side wall asprovided with a longitudinal pocket 29 to receive a spreader, such as30, which may be provided with end hooks to take into gromet eyes orother suitable formations in the suspension ends at substantiallyone-half the height of the wind shield. This prevents bulging of thewind shield at mid-height, and also it permits both the extensions 23and 24c to be rendered inactive. In such case the Wind shield extends tobut one-half the height of the complete wind shield.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims.

Claims:

1. As an article of manufacture, a wind shield for couch hammocks andthe like having a lower non-ventilating portion and two upper extensionsfacing each other therefrom, one of which is a ventilating portion andthe other of which is a nonvent-ilating portion.

2. As an article of manufacture, a wind shield for couch hammocks andthe like having a non-ventilating portion with two extensions, one ofwhich is a ventilating portion and the other of which is anonventilating portion, each of said extensions having means for thereception of a spreader, whereby either of said prolongations may bepositioned for use.

3. A couch hammock or the like having suspension meansand also having aside wall provided with an unreticulated portion provided with twoextensions, one of said extensions being an Lin-reticulated portion andthe other being a reticulated portion, and means for positioning eitherof said extensions for use.

4. An inclosed hammock-crib comprising a frame, upstanding suspensionends and two upstanding sides for attachment to the said suspensionends, each of said upstanding sides having an tin-reticulated portionand two extensions with means for supporting either extension inoperative position, one of said extensions being a reticulated extensionand the other being an unreticulated extension.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ISAAC E. PALMER. lVitnesses:

IRVING U. TOWNSEND, ROBERT H. KAMML R.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

